Brussels, 20/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 16 June, the European Commission adopted a draft Council decision proposing ratification by Member States, by 2008, of the Convention on standards for seafarers. The Convention was adopted in February by the International Labour Organisation (ILO, see EUROPE 9138). To this end, the Commission also opened consultation with European social partners in order to examine the possibility of integrating the Convention's provisions into EU law. Social partners are called upon to answer two questions, a press release from the Commission spokesman states. These are: (1) How can acquis communautaire evolve taking the Convention's provisions into account? (2) Can an agreement of social partners along the lines of Article 139 of the Treaty be envisaged? Given the matter in question, social dialogue is an essential tool for identifying effective means of implementation, including the possibility of integrating the Convention's provisions into EU law. We recall that Article 139 of the Treaty stipulates that “should management and labour so desire, the dialogue between them at Community level may lead to contractual relations, including agreements”.